College basketball: Top Kentucky player Noel out for season

Kentucky received the news it dreaded Wednesday when freshman forward Nerlens Noel was declared out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee.

Noel tore his ACL on Tuesday night when No. 25 Kentucky lost at Florida. An MRI exam revealed the injury, and the 6-foot-10 forward will have surgery in the next two or three weeks.

The projected recovery period is six to eight months.

Noel's injury deals a serious postseason blow to the defending national champions, who had appeared to be gaining some footing after struggling earlier this season while trying to blend in four freshmen. Leading the way defensively for the Wildcats was Noel, who began Tuesday first in the nation with 4.5 blocks per game.

Noel was hurt with 8 minutes left in the Wildcats' 69-52 loss to the seventh-ranked Gators. He ran into the basket support after blocking a layup from behind. Noel landed awkwardly, dropped to the floor and started screaming while clutching his knee.

Projected as an NBA lottery pick by some scouting services if he were to leave after the season, Noel's draft stock seemed unaffected by his injury. Several blogs still consider him a top-five selection.

P.J. Hairston scored 20 points for North Carolina, which missed 7 of 10 free throws during a key stretch in the second half.

Miami 74, Florida State 68: Shane Larkin scored 13 of his 22 points in the final 7﻿1/2 minutes to help the No. 3 Hurricanes (20-3, 11-0 ACC) hold off the host Seminoles (13-11, 5-6) for their 12th straight victory.

"We didn't have an answer for Larkin," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said of the son of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.

"His speed, quickness and his ability to make decisions is phenomenal for a sophomore guard. I haven't seen anybody that has the whole package like he does."